Author's notes at the end.
Chapter stands-in for Sozin's comet part 1
The Warspite was cruising steadily Northward, it was only three hours past midnight and the Sun was already high on the Eastern Sky, proclaiming that they were already quite far North.
Ozai clad himself in a thick wool robe as he walked onto the bridge, at altitude it was bitterly cold even with hot air from the boiler rooms being circulated around. As he looked out and down, he saw his Grand Fleet manoeuvring. The wakes the telltale signs of intricate exercises being pulled off bellow.
Further north, the picket line of cruisers and patrol boats had the Northern Water tribe surrounded. War balloons and airships were all on submarine patrol, just in case the Water Tribe tried a preemptive strike. Every so often an unfortunate sea creature would be depth-charged by the aircraft and surface ships, but no submarine had yet been confirmed destroyed.
He had considered leading the battle from the Warspite since the destruction of the Tigerdillo, but the journey, and the cold, had given him second thoughts, he would be leading from the comfort of a surface ship, it also had meant that he had to recall his son.
The Captain of the Warpsite turned around and saluted, "Ah, Fire Lord, we're on final approach."
Ozai nodded and walked further forward to look up ahead, the Captain's gaze followed him, "This will be a really exciting maneuver, sir. We've never docked with a moving surface ship before." the Captain said with almost idiotic glee, which further reinforced Ozai's decision.
He looked forward to see the wakes of five giant ships on the same bearing as the Warspite, his personal battle squadron.
It had been an early morning for most of the Gaang in the villa, Azula and Sokka had come back late excited to report everything they had learned, the good and the bad the bad news, so they had slept in.
Aang and Katara had been busy preparing breakfast for everyone while Zuko and Toph were mostly in the kitchen for moral support.
The sun was already quite high in the sky when Azula and Sokka finally graced the others with their presence.
"Good morning everyone!" Sokka said with a yawn, getting a cacophony of murmurs of Good mornings in reply.
As they took their seats Aang slid them bowls of porridge, which Sokka eagerly started shovelling down, while Azula took her time examining the texture with her spoon, examining it before she even let it touch her lips.
Zuko sat pondering, as if eager to speak but not wanting to be the one to break the silence, but Sokka helpfully did the work for him. "So what's the plan?"
"Well, we need to find Uncle… He can help us come up with a better plan at the very least." Zuko responded almost excitedly.
Azula just sighed, "And how are we going to do that with him escaped from prison?"
Zuko looked at his sister, "I know someone who can, but we need to depart for the west coast of Earth Kingdom today."
"Who?" inquired Azula, "No offence, Zuzu, but this is not the time to be impulsive."
"I know a bounty hunter who I am confident can find anyone."
"The girl with the giant mole?" exclaimed Sokka.
"Yes, June." answered Zuko matter-of-factly.
Azula slammed her fist to the table, "A bounty hunter? Need I remind you that we are wanted fugitives, people?"
"It's quite a gamble… But what other options do we have?" Aang asked solemnly.
Azula beat her fist in the table and yelled in response, "Not turning ourselves in to a bounty hunter, for one!"
Azka's small cruiser was pulling closer to the massive flagship of the fleet, the Battlecruiser, the aptly named Formidable, at over a thousand feet from bow to stern and a beam a little over a hundred, with a belt armour unequal in the fleet, she could happily sail over the small cruiser like ploughing through a wave without losing a knot in speed, the helmsman was understandably taking it carefully.
At half a ship's length a line was shot over from the giant battlecruiser, and Azka strapped on a harness with which he was pulled over from his ship.
Well onboard on the giant, Azka was greeted by a group of young sailors, an elder petty officer and a young lieutenant. "Welcome onboard, Brigadier. The Fire Lord is expecting you."
Azka saluted the men as soon as he was free of his harness and was then lead by the lieutenant and petty officer to the Admiral's ready room where Ozai was waiting, standing next to a large table topped with naval charts.
A smile rose on the Fire Lord's face. "My son! Welcome back!"
Azka bowed and saluted his father walked up to him. "My pioneers have all been delivered to the Great Ice Shelf and have begun their march towards the Water Tribe Citadel."
"Excellent!" Ozai responded, "Now we play the waiting game."
Ozai walked towards a divan in the corner of the room and took a seat, gesturing for Azka to sit down as well.
"Feel free to have drink, I believe you've earned it."
Azka walked towards a glass cabinet containing a large number of bottles of strong spirits.
"Will you have one, father?"
"If you insist." responded Ozai.
Azka mixed up two cocktails and walked over with them to his father and handed him one of them but before his father could take a sip, "The finishing touch." Azka said cockily and he began to move his fingers around and to Ozai's great surprise, the liquid came alive in his glass and began a dance before it fell back into the glass and puffed into flame.
"You can put it out before you drink it if you prefer." Azka said with a smirk.
Ozai looked up at his son doing a less elaborate version on his own drink.
"A little party trick I've perfected over the years." Azka said, grinning as he did, before taking a sip of the flaming liquid.
"I didn't know you could water bend? Quite frankly I've never heard of anyone but the Avatar being able to bend more than one element." Ozai said in disbelief.
Azka shook his head, "It's not water bending, I thought so myself at one point, even my grandmother believed I must have been the Avatar at one point but it's different."
Ozai took a sip of his drink, "How so?"
"It's like, I begin to charge lightning… And the water begins to follow, until I discharge it. I can also move metals in the same way but one should not confuse it with metal bending."
Azka took a sip of his drink; "It's still lighting bending at it's heart, and though I can make water, especially seawater follow, I have no feel for it like a true water bender and my fragile grip on it can be overcome by crudest forms of water bending."
"I see..." Ozai said narrowing his eyes.
"Practically, I've never had much use for it." Azka said before he downed the rest of his drink.
"Who taught you these powers?" Ozai asked ominously.
Azka smiled, "Well, if I tell you in confidence, my grandmother tried to teach me water bending, I learned the pushing and pulling but instead of controlling the water current, I discovered something else, I could make the water move, but my grandmother was never satisfied with my abilities, until one day in frustration, I discharged lighting."
Azka laughed and got up to go to the glass cabinet, "What a day that was. My grandmother thought I was the Avatar reborn, her being a child of the Southern tribe."
Ozai eyed his son mixing another drink.
"Of course once she figured what I was-" He turned to look his father in the eyes "Or wasn't…"
Azka walked back to take his seat, "Well, I think it killed some part of her, like the last connection to her home, you know. I didn't see her for years after that."
Ozai swirled his drink "You are a remarkable bender."
It was already evening when the Gaang arrived at the seedy Earth Kingdom tavern where June was holed up.
Azula had stayed outside with Appa and Momo, still feeling like it was a stupid idea go looking for a bounty hunter having some of the most priced heads in the world. The loud music and ruckus coming from the inside wasn't exactly reassuring her when finally, the door slammed open and June exited with the Gaang in tow.
The bounty hunter looked up and down at Azula and turned to Zuko, "Brought your big sister along to baby sit you, I see?"
June smiled at Azula as she walked past her, "I can see the family resemblance, although you're much prettier."
The bison and shirshu were butting heads when June pulled out a stake, "Nyla!" she called out playfully and threw it at the beast, which after seemingly swallowing it whole was passive for further instructions.
"Okay, who had the smell sample?" June called out and Zuko threw her an old worn sandal.
The shirshu immediately picked up a scent and before anyone else could react, June had jumped on its saddle, "Let's go!" she yelled to the group and took off without second though. "Try to keep up!" she called back before disappearing into the woods.
The Gaang scrambled and hopped up on Appa and began to follow the shirshu and it's rider north.
They had riden out the night and after few short breaks they had ridden out the day too, in fact, well into nightfall when Sokka began to notice the eerie familiarity and exclaimed, "This place is starting to look familiar.
"This looks like the forest where Jeong Jeong hid out" Aang responded.
"You people know General Jeong Jeong?" Azula asked surprised.
But before anyone had the chance to respond June signalled for the party to land which Aang duly did, as soon as the bison touched the ground June spoke; "Nyla is getting twitchy so our quarry can't be far off, but I'm getting a bad feeling about this place, like we're being watched."
Nyla was sniffing the ground intensely; "Your uncle has walked here within the last couple of hours." She turned to face Zuko with a worried look, "If you don't mind, I'd like to have my money and leave."
"But we haven't found him yet!" Zuko said angrily.
"I'm pretty sure, whatever is out there will find you." June retorted as she scanned the woods. "You develop a sixth sense for these things in my line of work."
"Fine!" answered Zuko and threw the bounty hunter a small bag of gold coin which June caught and weighed quickly in her hand before bolting off. "Pleasure doing business with you!"
Zuko dismounted and turned to his companions, "It's already late, maybe we should camp for the night."
Scarcely had Zuko finished his sentence when a wall of flame surrounded them and everyone dismounted and took a battle stance.
From the flames emerged Jeong Jeong and his men who looked at Aang and smiled "We meet again Avatar, destiny smiles upon us this day, come, our friends are waiting."
The Gaang relaxed as the wall of flame died down and Jeong Jeong gestured for them to follow.
Zuko took a step forward, "Sir... Prince Zuko, we haven't had the honour, we're looking for my uncle, General Iroh, have you seen him recently?"
Jeong Jeong turned his head towards Zuko and answered simply, "Yes."
After an emotional reunion with the old masters of the White Lotus society, the good news of Master Pakku's marriage to Kanna and Bumi's tale of his reconquest of Omashu, the Gaang had settled down for the night, with the exception of Zuko who had stayed up all night to wait for his uncle to wake up.
As everyone was waking up out of their slumber Iroh had been busy making tea for everyone.
Azula was the first one to emerge from her tent where she had spent the night with Sokka. Her Uncle was sitting by the fire and his eyes met hers, she hated how casually he watched her rise to her feet, no ire or malice in his eyes, but no joy either, it was like he was looking right through her except his eyes were locked on her, he nodded ever so slightly at her and she began to walk towards the fire.
Suddenly there was a yawn from behind her and she turned back to see Sokka emerge from behind her as she turned back around she saw a smile on her Uncle's face as he sipped his tea.
Azula continued towards her uncle "Where's Zuko?" she asked.
"Oh, he is sleeping, stayed up the whole night, the poor boy, waiting for me to stir." Iroh said with a slight smile.
Azula sat down in front of her Uncle joined soon by Sokka sitting next to her. Iroh put down his own cup and turned over two that were sitting on a tray behind him.
"I must say, I am surprised to see you here, dear Niece." Iroh poured tea into the cups. "But I am very happy that you are." He handed Sokka and Azula their tea and looked at them in turn.
Azula, in a gesture of disregard started looking at her free hand and began to groom her fingernails with her thumb; "It wasn't like I had any choice in matter."
Iroh chuckled "You always had a choice, but this time destiny pushed you hard in the right direction."
"It was either this or wander the world a fugitive… Alone." Azula spat back.
"So your choice was simple but it was still a choice." Iroh said with what Azula perceived as annoying smugness and self-satisfaction, that just made her boil.
"Excellent tea, General." interjected Sokka.
"A man of taste, I see." Iroh said with a smile rising from ear to ear, he then winked at Azula; "This one is a keeper, I can tell."
Azula blushed as she glanced at Sokka and smiled at the boy, the sleep still in his eyes. "I guess he is." she found herself saying out loud.
"What is the White Lotus's plan?" Sokka asked. "You're this far North, it can't be a coincidence."
"That's right, we were originally set upon reconquering Ba Sing Se, but about two weeks back, some old friends of mine began sending me distressing messages regarding redeployments of the Fire Navy." Iroh answered with a serious tone. "My brother is not a wise man and does not understand the power of the comet, nor the delicate balance of nature, he thinks he can end the war with fire, but he'll end up drowning the world instead."
"How would he do that?" asked Azula alarmed.
"If he plans on raining comet enhanced fire on the Poles to root out and destroy the Water Tribes, all that frozen water on the highland glaciers will come rushing down to the sea like a flooding river, it will create a tsunami that could reach up to all but the highest mountains before retreating, washing away everything in its path." Iroh said gloomily.
Sokka and Azula sat in silence, until Sokka spoke, "It's like the legend of the Ancient Tribesmen."
"The who?" Azula asked puzzled.
"A Water Tribe legend of an ancient race of men from a land beyond the great sea, who grew so powerful and advanced that their Empire is said to have reached into the spirit world, some say beyond the stars, but in their arrogance they angered the spirit of the Earth so much that it descended into mortal form among them, but in the end, conjured up a great storm the likes of which the world had never seen before or since in which their homeland was consumed by the ocean." Sokka explained solemnly.
Iroh nodded, "It is one of many ways for the world to restore it's balance, but the cost..." he looked down and then towards Aang's tent from which Katara was now emerging, "Now we have hope of victory."
Katara walked up to the fire and Iroh began pouring her a cup of tea, as she reached it she bowed; "General Iroh, I am glad to see you again."
Iroh smiled and handed her the cup, "The pleasure is all mine, young Princess."
Katara blushed at Iroh bestowing such a title on her and she saw Azula roll her eyes while Sokka just winked at her.
Katara took her tea and sat down. "Aang is still sleeping, I could go wake him if you're waiting for him."
"Don't worry, Toph and Zuko are still sleeping too." Sokka interjected.
"It's going to be a long day. We're all going to need our rest." Iroh said.
Suddenly one of Jeong Jeong's men came running up to Iroh carrying a scroll, "Messenger hawk arrived in the morning."
Iroh unravelled the scroll and read it silently to himself before casting it into the fire, which caused some uneasy looks from the kids sitting around him which he noticed; "Oh, old habit, it was excellent news, I assure you."
The messenger saluted his general and left. Iroh lifted his tea pot, "More tea anyone?"
Sokka and Azula stretched out their cups to Iroh who dutifully filled their cups.
"So… Sokka was it?" Iroh asked to a nod from Sokka. "I understand you've had a part in developing these airships?"
Sokka shook his head, and Katara answered for him; "My brother developed a control mechanism for the war balloons but he had little part in their conception, important as his contribution was."
"But you have some understanding of how they work?"
"Yes…" Sokka started, "I even had a chance to familiarise myself with one of the smaller ones which me and your nephew commandeered."
Iroh nodded and smiled gently, "How would you like to be responsible for taking down the Fleet air arm?"
Sokka almost spat out his tea in excitement before catching himself, the enthusiasm turning to self-doubt. "Sir… As much as I'd love the opportunity, isn't there anyone else more experienced who could take on the job?"
Iroh chuckled, "Aerial warfare is in its infancy, so it stands to reason that my Commander in the air needs to be young, flexible and creative, not set in his ways. And besides, sounds to me like you're one of the most experienced people I have in this field regardless."
Sokka smiled and nodded, "I humbly accept the assignment, General."
"Good, I am warranting you the rank of Captain." Iroh added almost bluntly.
Sokka's face lit up as a grin started to grow from ear to ear and he bowed and saluted Iroh.
Azula looked at Sokka and smiled a little, "Well, Captain, have you thought about who you would have as your executive officer?"
Sokka turned to face her; "Well, I think she should be a highly trained warrior with combat experience."
"Someone ruthless and decisive." She smiled devilishly.
"With a mind for the strategic and tactical." Sokka added as he leaned towards Azula self-confidently.
Azula in turn leaned back and brought her finger to her chin as if thinking, "But where to find such a person?"
"Yes, yes, Azula! You can be Sokka's lieutenant." Iroh said with a hint of annoyance, as they turned their heads to face him he added, "Go and do your duties."
Just then Aang emerged from his tent.
"That just leaves my nephew and Miss Beifong." Iroh said.
"I can hear you just fine, General!" rang a shout from Toph's earth tent.
The Marine engineers under Brigadier Azka had scorched a large landing field a couple of miles from the sea for the airship fleet. Five ships had been assigned to the northern force. After the dam disaster the Fleet Air Arm was down Six ships, the Tigerdillo included, and Five had been assigned to the South pole.
The mighty Warspite, making another shuttle run and was coming in to land carrying a large number of highly ranked officers and their staff, among them Admiral Chan who was watching the men on the ground from the forecastle, standing tall above everything else as he held onto the figurehead, he couldn't help but imagine the men bellow as ants running around on the ground, until the ship had descended far enough that he could start making them out as men.
Out at sea he could see various ships of the grand fleet on the distant horizon, and a few miles from the landing field there was a small port town which harbour held one massive ship. The Admiral recognised her as the Formidable, her main armament, two massive steam loaded ballistas, one superfiring over the other on the stepped curved main deck, gave her a profile like no other ship in the fleet, along with her length, over half of her citadel length dedicated to her machinery spaces.
"Nothing quite beats the view, sir!" one of the Junior officers yelled from behind the Admiral.
"No! What a time to be alive!" The Admiral responded.
As they further approached the field, the Admiral saw a young man in a high ranking officers uniform looking up at them.
"Lieutenant, do you know who that is?" asked the Admiral pointing down at the young man.
The Lieutenant took up a pair of binoculars and looked at the man, "Looks to be a Brigadier of the Royal Marines, Sir!"
The Admiral stepped inside the ship and began climbing the ladders down, he felt a soft thud as the ship touched down and suddenly there was a clang and a bunch of hissing as the engines died down completely.
When the Admiral finally reached the lower deck, most of the other officers had already disembarked and his staff of six were the only ones left, waiting for him, they saluted and he saluted them back as they began to walk down the off ramp.
The young Brigadier was greeting the other officers and chatting with some of them, "The sociable type." the Admiral he said to one of his adjutants as he walked towards the small crowd.
The Brigadier noticed the Admiral in his periphery and turned to salute him. The Captain who had stood chatting with the young man turned to salute the Admiral as well and was the first one to speak after the Admiral had returned the salute, "Admiral, may I have the honour to present Crown Prince Azka, Brigadier of the Royal Marine Engineers."
"At your service, Admiral." Bowed the Prince.
The Admiral was stunned, the Prince didn't have an aura of royalty about him, no pretences of superiority, he was a high ranking field officer for sure but he conducted himself like any other officer in the Crown's service.
"At ease!" The Admiral scanned up and down the boy, "I heard that the Fire Lord had adopted a new heir but I hadn't expected to meet the Crown Prince so informally."
Azka just smiled boyishly, "I am first and foremost a soldier, Sir."
"Spoken like one!" the Admiral said and smiled at the young man. He turned quickly to his staff and then back to Azka. "Listen, I've granted myself and my staff some evening leave after the journey."
"As is your right" responded Azka, "There is a town not far from here were you can spend the evening but my father has requested your presence aboard the fleet flagship."
The Admiral's face dropped, "The Fire Lord is here?"
"Leading the battle himself, Admiral." he gestured to the Admiral to walk along with him, "If you don't mind, my father is a busy man as I'm sure you can appreciate."
The Admiral looked back at his staff again to gauge their faces, but everyone remained stone faced, so he turned back, "I'd be honoured, my Prince."
Azka gestured for the Admiral to come along before he spoke, "Follow me!"
Iroh and Zuko were walking around camp watching as members of the White Lotus and their allies prepared in various ways for the coming battle.
"I would like to have you by my side when our army takes on the invasion force." Iroh said sternly to his nephew. "But if you're going to be Fire Lord you must make your own decisions and it means knowing where you're needed the most."
Zuko looked over his shoulder at Sokka and Azula sparring with Piandau and Aang sparring with Bumi and Jeong Jeong. "I think I will be most useful helping my friends."
Iroh turned around to look at the Avatar, his new young subordinates and his old friends. "Just know, being out in the vanguard could bring you into a direct confrontation with your father."
"That's why I'm going… I don't think neither Aang nor Azula understands just how merciless Father can be."
Iroh nodded and turned, Zuko following in his wake. "You've yet to reveal your plan, uncle?"
"Yes." Iroh responded without hesitation. "Before all Pai-Sho tiles are on the board, it it useless to confuse one's subordinates with information that is subject to change, but I guess there is no harm in telling you that we are planning on trapping one squadron of this Grand fleet in port."
"But there's bound to be hundreds of ships out there what will bottling up one squadron do?" Zuko asked somewhat concerned.
"Three hundred capital ships." Iroh responded plainly.
Zuko felt his stomach turn. "Is this from a reliable source?"
"A man I would trust with my life." Iroh responded.
Admiral Chan walked up the sloped deck of the Formidable with Azka towards the towering pagoda superstructure.
As they entered the superstructure they soon came to the officers mess where the Fire Lord was waiting with one of the Admirals.
Azka bowed and saluted, "Father, Fleet Admiral Chan."
Chan saluted and bowed to the Fire Lord, then he turned his gaze to his gaunt grey haired colleague, he thought he knew all the Admirals in the Fire Navy, at least someone as senior in his years as this man.
"I don't believe we've had the honour." said Chan.
The Fire Lord gestured to the man, "This is Yon-Rha, former commander of the Southern Raiders, called out of retirement."
"Ah yes!" exclaimed Chan looking his colleague in the eye, "Your reputation precedes you."
The Fire Lord continued, "Few people have as much experience fighting these Water tribe savages as Yon-Rha."
Chan just nodded. Yon-Rha's campaign against the Southern Water Tribe had indeed bought in him experience by running out the clock, Chan's predecessor had thought Yon-Rha an overly cautious commander who liked to compensate for these failures in initiative with sheer brutality.
"As such, he will be commanding the Northern Fleet element." The Fire Lord added.
"A sizeable group." Chan responded.
"Quite." said Yon-Rha, "Eighty capital ships in total."
The Fire Lord interjected, "Admiral Chan is in charge of the Eastern Fleet. We're still waiting for the arrival of Admiral Li and Liang of the Home and Western fleets respectively."
The Fire Lord paused and none of the other men spoke so breaking the silence, he continued, "Each fleet is pretty equal in strength with the exception of the numerically superior but technologically obsolescent home fleet of course."
Chan casually crossed his arms. "Is there anything me and my colleague need to know in particular or should we wait for the others?" he asked matter-of-factly.
A young marine lieutenant then knocked and entered, standing at attention he introduced the elder Admiral, "Fire Lord, Admirals. Fleet Admiral Li."
The old admiral of the home fleet entered the room, and bowed to the Fire Lord, "Gentlemen." he said courteously. "I hope I haven't missed anything important?"
"Not at all, Admiral, we're still waiting for your esteemed colleague, Admiral Liang." the Fire Lord responded. "However, I think it won't' harm anyone if we go over some of the basic strategy?" he looked to the other Admirals for signs of disapproval but after finding none he proceeded once more. "I trust there are no objections to having Admiral Li have his force guarding the perimeter?"
Admiral Li raised his hand casually, "You'll have none from me, we are very experienced in running picket lines."
The Fire Lord nodded, "Good, the invasion force will of course be carried by the Western Fleet, while the Northern Fleet is conducting submarine patrols." The Fire Lord looked Chan in the eyes, "That leaves the Eastern Fleet for primary combat operations."
"The tip of the spear." Chan responded.
"Not exactly." Responded Ozai, "I myself will be commanding the battle from the Formidable in charge of my own squadron."
"What of the Airships?" Asked Li.
"Per Admiral Chan's request, they will be divided up and placed as supporting elements to each of the fleets." The Fire Lord answered casually.
Li turned to Chan, "That's a terrible idea, the fleet Air arm was always meant to work as a group. You explicitly stated so in your memorandum to war minister Qin."
Chan just shrugged, "Different circumstances call for different tactics."
Yon-Rha then interjected, "While I see your point, Admiral Li, if the submarines come out in force, an airship would be a great asset."
The Fire Lord nodded, "I think that settles it then."
Li raised his hand, "My Lord, don't you think we should hear from Admiral Liang before making the final decision?"
The Fire Lord looked at Li pensively before speaking; "Under who's command would you subordinate the air wing?"
Li looked around the room, "Well… Naturally, the combat operations group..."
"Which is of course, Admiral Chan's command." The Fire Lord said raising his hand in gesture towards Chan. "Who has requested that the air fleet be divided up among the fleets."
Li took a deep breath and a step back, "I stand overruled." he then looked to Chan and nodded courteously.
Chan turned to the Fire Lord taking out his pipe from his pocket, "Maybe a five minute break while we wait for Admiral Liang to arrive?"
The Fire Lord nodded, "Very well."
Chan looked around the room as he walked to the door, "Could anyone of you gentlemen spare some light?"
Yon-Rha walked towards him and enveloped the muzzle end of Chan's pipe, Chan nodded courteously as he stepped outside.
The day had turned into dusk in the boreal forest.
Azula and Sokka had climbed up on a small hill to look at the comet it the sky.
As Sokka looked at the white starlike object with its blue halo he couldn't help but think how beautiful it looked in the night sky. "Doesn't seem to be moving at all, does it?" he said.
"No… But trust me, it's bearing down on us at an incredible speed." Azula responded, as she turned to look at Sokka, "Stargazing class at the Royal Fire Academy for Girls, I took it as prep work for the Naval Academy, a huge benefit to navigation at sea."
Sokka nodded, "I see." he then turned to Azula with an inquisitive look "So… How does it actually… Work… I mean, it's there… And yet you're not shooting lightning out of your ears or anything?"
Azula didn't break her gaze at the comet as she confessed her ignorance, "I don't know actually… I guess the tail has to hit us or something."
"What tail?" asked Sokka, seeing but a blue glow surrounding the comet.
"It's coming right towards us so we can't see it."
"Oh..." exclaimed Sokka in slight embarrassment over his moment of stupidity.
"Have you thought about how we're going to commandeer one of those Airships, Captain?" Azula asked.
"I have actually, if we could get control of the bridge we could pull of some kind of ruse to lure the rest of the crew into the bomb bay, and drop them into the sea."
"Cold, risky but has a certain… Simplistic charm to it." Azula responded. "I would probably try to to vent the boilers into the crew spaces."
Sokka looked at Azula puzzled, "Wouldn't that kill them?"
Azula shrugged her shoulders, "Probably, as assuredly as the sea, but it reminds me, we're going to need stokers to feed the boilers, else it's going to be a very short trip."
"We'll bring Toph along." Sokka said almost nonchalantly before he turned to Azula again, "Are you sure you'll be able to handle the boilers? They can be very temperamental, we almost blew one up with your brother."
Azula smirked wickedly as she turned to look at Sokka, "I think I can handle a few giant tea kettles."
Sokka forced a smile and was about to reprimand Azula on her cavalier attitude towards some pretty dangerous equipment, before her expression turned serious and she added, "I'll have Zuko along to help, he spent three years at sea, so he knows his stuff." She paused for a good second before continuing, "And you're not the only one with a knack for engineering, you know!" she added with playful seriousness.
Sokka nodded and chuckled.
Azula in turn sighed and took a deep breath as if she gathered herself to say something painful, "I'm not sure how much she'd enjoy it but I would like to have your sister along to manage the feed water." She paused again as she turned her head to look at the comet once more.
"I'll speak with her." Sokka added as he too raised his eyes towards the sky. "I've been thinking about who else I should bring along..."
There was a moment of silence as each one pondered what to say next, until Azula finally broke it. "Just bring the whole team, that's what you want to do anyway, we're in this together now."
Sokka once again nodded, not breaking his eyes from the comet, "Yeah, it would be a bit of a mood breaker for everyone to split up and do their own thing at such a pivotal moment."
There was slight commotion down at the camp, nothing major, but enough to catch Sokka's and Azula's attention. "We should go take a look!" Sokka said and the pair started down the hill.
As they made it down to the foot of the hill and the perimeter of the camp they began to see men dressed in black and red uniforms standing by the campfire, it didn't take a genius to figure out what they could be but regardless Azula and Sokka slowed their pace and moved more silently into the camp, when they saw Zuko embrace one of the robed men with a smile on his face.
The pair looked at one another, shrugged their shoulders and quick marched towards the campfire where the rest of the Gaang and the old masters were gathered.
"Hello!" said Sokka as he reached the light of the fire.
Zuko who stood nearest to them turned around to face them. "Hey! Sokka, Azula, this is my old friend, lieutenant- I'm sorry, Captain Jee."
Sokka and Azula bowed to the man as Zuko turned back to him. "It's so good to see you again."
"You too, my Prince." Jee said.
The taller of the men then turned around and looked at Sokka's and Azula's illuminated faces, his own face obscured by the darkness, "I do believe we've met before." said the figure with a baritone voice. "Though never formally introduced."
Iroh spoke, "This is my old friend, Fleet Admiral Chan, Count of Ember Island."
Zuko took the turn; "And this is Sokka, son of Hakoda of the Southern Water tribe."
"Hakoda?" said Chan inquisitively, "Your Father has given me many headaches throughout the years."
Sokka didn't respond at first not knowing how to take the comment, "Uhm, thanks… I guess?" to which the corners of Chan's mouth rose ever so slightly.
Zuko then continued, "And this, of course, is my sister Azula."
Azula turned her head to her brother and grimaced.
Chan bowed, "Princess."
He then turned to Iroh, "I've secured us one of the Airships, I could have gotten them all but at a gamble but now they will be split up and subject to defeat in detail."
Iroh nodded, "Excellent, Admiral."
Azula then stepped forward, "So what is this, Uncle, your faction of loyalists?" Her disrespectful tone catching the ire of Chan.
"You should show your elders respect, girl!" he said raising his voice ever so slightly, but his deep rumbling voice was like thunder in Azula's ears and she found herself taking a step back instinctively.
Iroh took his turn to speak, "These are members of the White Lotus and personal friends of mine, and believe me, dear niece, I would never have asked these men to undertake this task if I didn't feel the situation was dire."
Chan turned to the princess, "We are soldiers, your highness, our job is to endure the unendurable but it's one thing to face men in battle and quite another to murder innocent civilians, every conscience has its limits, I came to the limit of mine when I heard about your father's plans for the Earth Kingdom."
Azula hung her head a bit in shame.
"Any news?" asked Iroh.
"Yes, the Fire Lord himself will be leading the battle." He glanced and Azula and Zuko, "Along with his new heir, a brigadier in the Royal Marines, politely spoken adopted, but it's pretty much an open secret that the man is a dusted off bastard."
Azula's stomach turned at the news, not only had she been disowned but now replaced. "How do you know this?" she asked with her voice betraying her ever so slightly.
Chan looked Azula in the eyes, "For starters, I met the man, and your bigger half-sibling is the spitting imagine of your father." before turning to Sokka, "Except for those piercing blue eyes of his."
The image of the man at the western air temple flashed into to Zuko's mind, "He is the man that killed Suki!"
Sokka turned to him, "What? How would you know?!"
"When the door was breached, I thought I saw my father staring back at me but it wasn't, but it shocked me in the moment."
Sokka's eyes flashed red as he saw the Suki's killer in his mind's eye and in a moment of desperate anger he had drawn his sword and found himself driving it into the ground in front of him in impotent rage. "I'll kill him! I swear by the Moon I'll kill the bastard!"
Iroh pulled Zuko by the sleeve and gestured for him to go get something while Azula put his hand on his shoulder as he fell to ground and Katara ran over with Aang while the rest of the crowd looked on. "Damn it! It was so much easier when Suki's killer was just a faceless drone!" he yelled out.
Chan then walked over and pulled Sokka's sword out of the ground and inspected it for a moment before he spoke. "Son, I know you are distraught but I need to know something?"
Sokka looked up at the Admiral who flipped the sword in his hand, hilt point at Sokka. "Can I count on you to do your duty?"
Sokka took his sword and pressed out his answer through his tears; "What do you mean?"
"I'm asking, if you had a job to do and you saw the Fire Lord's son on the battlefield, would you you do your duty or would you rather avenge your loved one?" The Admiral stared Sokka in the eyes sternly.
Sokka looked over at Iroh who was giving him the same stern look, he turned his gaze back to the Admiral, "Given no other option, as much as it would pain me, I'd forgo personal satisfaction for the greater good."
Chan nodded affirmatively.
Zuko returned with some tea for Sokka before he was pulled aside by Jee.
"I need to know something, whenever we were in port or just out and about, you never..." Jee gesticulated with his hands, "Conspired with the Water Tribes, right?"
Zuko looked stunned and scoffed, "No! What would give you that idea?"
Jee's face remained stern, "About a week of interrogation by the Secret Gendarmerie did that, hadn't it been for Admiral Chan's intervention I would probably still be in a dungeon, I just wanted to know for certain."
"But the notion is ridiculous!" responded Zuko, slightly flustered.
Admiral Chan stepped in, "Your father doesn't seem to think so, convinced that you and General Iroh are the architects of a great coup, that the return of the Avatar is nothing but a fabrication."
Zuko was stunned to hear of this, "I need to know everything!"
The sun was peaking out over the eastern horizon and the Fire Lord and his Heir were standing on the bridge of the Formidable, which was setting out to sea with her battle squadron, the five ships were sailing with their escorts in a quincunx pattern, the four other ships protecting the command ship. The formation was lead by the Repulse and and her sister Resolution, although smaller than her Formidable, they were more than a match to anything else in the fire navy with exception of the other three ships sailing within the squadron.
The Valiant and Conqueror, like the Formidable had two ballistas but sacrificed speed to achieve this firepower but even so, only slightly. The Formidable made no such compromises, she was faster, more heavily armoured and more heavily armed. The Fire Lord could feel safe in the knowledge that he was commanding the most powerful ship, in the most powerful formation of ships in the world.
"The stargazers have assured me that the comet should arrive before noon tomorrow." Ozai said looking out at the horizon.
"Perfect for a devastating first strike and with a new moon, the water benders will be at their weakest." Azka added but turned to his father with a concerned look. "There is something that has me worried though."
"Go on!" commanded Ozai.
"It's just that, what if they won't stand and fight, if they run away into the glacial highlands?"
Ozai chuckled. "You underestimate the comet, we will rake the poles with fire, they will bend the knee or be destroyed."
Azka nodded affirmatively.
The Gaang had the White Lotus had been planning the upcoming battle the whole night, the main debate had focused on a swift pre-emptive attack at in the afternoon before the comet's arrival, but Iroh had had thought it more prudent to attack at the zenith of fire bending power, letting surprise be the balancer, rather than have a weakened fire nation regroup and counter-attack with all the might of the comet at their back.
And as Jeong Jeong had put it, the Fire Lord's forces weren't the only one's who would draw their power from the comet.
The Gaang's mission had also been drawn out, Admiral Chan would hand the airship in his command to Sokka and they would wreck as much havoc as they could, while the Eastern Fleet would sweep in and defeat the rest of the Grand fleet in detail. It was a risky plan, no doubt. but a plan everyone could be reasonably confident in.
However, if the airship was shot down and, or, the Grand Fleet managed to reform, the Eastern Fleet would stand no chance against the numerically superior enemy.
As much as part a part of Aang had hoped to be able to squeeze Appa and Momo into the plan, he had to agree that it was for the best to leave them behind at camp and out of harms way.
As the Gaang exited the command tent and started heading off to sleep, they were stopped by the baritone voice of Admiral Chan, "Where do you kids think you're going?"
Sokka turned in confusing to meet the Admiral's gaze, "Uhm, I figured we'd get some shut eye?" Azula then poked him with her elbow, "Sir!" he added hastily, Azula whispering to him, "You're an officer now, act like it!"
"You're coming with me." Chan said sternly. "All of you."
Aang started, "But the battle-" but was interrupted by Chan, "No buts, you're coming with me to get suited up and ready for battle."
Sokka turned to the others, "I guess we have no choice."
Aang then looked back to look at Appa and then back to Sokka, "I'll be a moment."
Sokka just nodded and watched as Aang and his sister walked towards the bison, he pondered if he should go and say his farewell but in he end decided not to, he wasn't quite sure why, not because of any certainty of coming back alive but it was unfinished business that could give him extra drive when things called for it. He turned to walk towards the Admiral who had kept his eyes on him.
As Sokka passed Chan, Chan gripped him by the neck and started walking beside him, it was with enough force to hurt but not enough for Sokka to feel like he should make a number about it. "I'll work you like a dog for ruining my supper, Captain."
He glanced at the Admiral, the corner of his mouth rising ever so slightly before he let Sokka go. "What do you say, Captain?"
Sokka turned to Azula for an answer who just shrugged her shoulders before turning back to Chan, "Uhm, Ay, sir?" to which Chan nodded affirmatively.
As Chan as his entourage took the lead, Toph walked up to Sokka, "So why did you you volunteer me on this suicide mission anyway, it's had enough that I have to indirectly be pushed around by man-bear-boar up front over there, I won't be able to see a thing outside of a flying hunk of metal."
Sokka sighed, "I didn't want to break up the team… And well, if the worst happens..."
Azula interrupted, and in her condescending tone said, "Don't worry, stokers don't see much outside of the boilers rooms in any case."
Toph stopped in her tracks, "I don't have to take any of your lip, just because you sank your claws into Lover boy over here, Bitch Queen!" she replied angrily.
Sokka turned to the girls, "Girls, play nice!"
"Hey, I was just just stating facts." Azula said feigning aloofness before she turned to Toph, "And I'll be right there with you watching you work."
Toph stopped in her tracks, "Oh that's it! I'm not working under her!"
Sokka stopped, sighed and turned around, "Toph, I won't force you to come along…"
"Oh so I'm replaceable, but she isn't!?" Toph responded raising her voice even further.
"That's not what I meant, I'm sorry, it's just that-"
"Suki is hardly even cold yet and you're bedding this perfidious slut!" Toph spat out venomously.
Sokka turned his head part in shame and part in shock. Azula in turn turned to Toph her face twisted in anger, "I resent that! I might be perfidious but I-"
"Oh shut up!" Toph yelled back at Azula interrupting her.
It was then that Aang and Katara caught up to the trio.
"What's going on here?" Aang asked, to which Toph immediately responded, "Someone needed to tell Sokka some hard truths."
"Who have you lost during this war, Toph?" Sokka asked bitterly. "This war has cost me my mother, Yue and Suki, and it could still cost me, I'll mourn them in my own way but for now, I'm just going to be thankful for the people I have, because they may not be here tomorrow. Especially after tomorrow."
Toph frowned, "You think you're the only one who's lost people? You think you're the only one who lost Suki?!"
Sokka shook his head, "No that's not what-"
Katara interjected, "Okay, let's try to get a grip here for real."
Sokka nodded his head, "Yes, this bickering is pointless, we started this journey as a team and I'd like it to end it as a team."
He walked over to Toph and put his hand on her shoulder, "Toph, Azula is indispensable on this mission, but you are irreplaceable, it's my wish to have you along but I would never force you to do something you didn't want to."
Toph still frowned, her blank stare fixed a thousand miles out until it her expression relaxed, "Okay… I'm sorry."
Admiral Chan had turned around to find out why the kids had stopped, "Is there a problem, Captain?" he yelled with his deep voice.
Sokka turned around, "No, sir!"
He turned back to the Gaang, "Let's get moving."
As the entourage moved closer to the town, they came across a large tent city housing thousands, possibly tens of thousands of fire nation troops, from where Chan had acquired the Gaang Fire Army uniforms, that with small modification could be made to look like Fire Marine uniforms to look less conspicuous even though the small stature of Toph, Aang and Azula did draw some eyes, fortunately, not even high ranking field officers dared to confront a Fleet Admiral about this.
Well in town, the Gaang had been quartered in a small room in one of the larger inns, reserved for the Fire Navy where Chan had procured them naval uniforms.
Out of the window they could see Army soldiers marching and hauling gear to the harbour. To the South West there was a blackened field were the airships and war balloons would land and take off at irregular intervals.
The Gaang had been watching the goings on in the town from their window while Toph tried to eavesdrop on any conversation going on in the building and considering the amount of sailors in the building, it was no wonder why the young Earth bender was blushing so red that several times Katara had worried if she was falling ill.
Sokka had made a habit of walking up to the window every time a ship had came into land or if another one would take off, as if observing the behaviour of the giant beasts. Azula came to stand beside him, "Nervous?" she asked him.
His eyes were fixed on the ship taking off, it accelerated much quicker than he would have guessed as it ascended. "Perhaps not as much as I should be."
Azula smirked, "Good!" she pulled him by the arm turning him towards her and started fixing his uniform gently. "That means you're brave." she paused as she raised her eyes to meet his "But not stupid."
The corners of Sokka's mouth rose a degree before it broke into a smirk, "Are you sure you wouldn't rather be on the other side of this battle?"
Azula returned his smirk in turn, "If my Uncle is right… And as much I hate to admit it, he usually is… I'd rather die in fire than see the world drowned." She turned and walked away swaying her hips, turning her just to watch Sokka's eyes follow them and said coyly "The very thought of which offends me as a Princess of the Fire Nation."
Sokka chuckled, "Like the thought of a world ended it flame offends me."
Katara and Aang were playing Pai-Sho while Zuko was making tea for the rest of his team when there was a knock at the door. "Come in!" Katara yelled from the table.
It was Captain Jee, "Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen. The Admiral has ordered me to give you these." He lifted a hand full of blue and white armbands, that everyone walked up in turn to grab.
"What are these?" asked Aang.
"They are to signify that you are fighting under the banner of the White Lotus. The Admiral further asked me to relay that he doesn't want anyone to do any fighting under the banner of the Fire Nation, understood?"
Sokka cocked his eyes, "How come?"
Jee scoffed, "Because it's dishonourable and a war crime."
"So the world is about to end and the Admiral is concerned with honour and law?" Sokka replied excitedly.
"Yes." was Jee's short and sweet reply, until he raised his hand and pointed his finger towards the door, "Unless you want to raise these concerns with the Admiral?"
"No!" Sokka answered without delay.
Jee bowed to the room, "Prince, Princess, Captain." and after everyone bowed in return, he turned to leave, "I would suggest you kids get some sleep, tomorrow is going to be a harrowing day for us all."
Sokka had been drifting in and out of sleep throughout the night, Azula slept next to him with his head nuzzled in his shoulder like he had gotten strangely used to. He looked down to stroke her soft, silky hair, she stirred awake and looking up, she first had an annoyed look on her face but it soon morphed into a loving smile.
Suddenly there was a yell from downstairs, "ARISE ARISE!" followed by commotion and a repeat of the command from several different locations around the building.
Everyone in the room stirred awake.
Suddenly the door opened without a knock and Admiral Chan stepped in and announced, "It is time!"
Standing at the threshold of the climax, all the pieces are in place, stakes are set, I hope you have enjoyed the story so far, because there isn't that much left.
So yeah, my goal was always to try to be as faithful to the Original series that I could, with Chan's mutiny, I'm really really stretching it, basically my whole argument is, well, we don't see the Fire Navy NOT mutiny at the end, so it COULD have happened, just like I COULD have shat gold this morning. Plus, I like the idea of the Fire Nation military giving the middle finger to the Fire Lord and the high command.
And yeah, I said I would go nuts with Lightning Bending, it's gone a bit sci-fi, electricity is an interesting phenomenon in whatever world you choose to inhabit.
Time for some heresy, in hindsight, as great at the climax of ATLA was, one ache that has grown in me over time is that at the end, the team splits up and doesn't come together again until the battle is won. It is my humble belief that the ending of ATLA would have been stronger if everyone had been together battling the Fire Lord and the Air Fleet. That being said, this should not be seen as a prelude to me fanning my own balls as if I have something better in the chamber because I don't, it will be an ending to my story and nothing more.
